Ray-Ban History
RAY-BAN: ThE hISTORY Of ThE TOp SELLING EYEwEAR BRANd wORLd wIdE
1936 Birth of Ray-Ban Eyewear For aviation, both military and civil, the 1920s was a decade of remarkable advances. Air traffic grew as a result. With the development of new aeroplanes that could fly higher and higher came altitude-related problems. Pilots were suffering from headaches and nausea because of glare and the great distances that they had to traverse. In 1929, General MacCready asked Ray-Ban for a new type of air force eyewear that would protect pilots from glare at high altitudes while at the same time ensuring a clear field of vision. The company took up the challenge and succeeded in developing a new pair of glasses with lenses that could block out a high proportion of visible light. This marked the birth of Ray-Ban’s first, green-lens ANTI GLARE eyewear. The first model to go on sale to the public - in 1936 - featured a plastic frame with the classic Aviator shape. 1937 Ray-Ban Trademark Registered The name ANTI GLARE was too generic. It did not distinguish the new eyewear clearly from rival products. In 1937, the Ray-Ban trademark was registered and marketed, gracing a new model with a metal frame. The name Ray-Ban was chosen for the new product to emphasise that the eyewear could block out glare and protect the user’s eyes from the sun’s rays. The Large Metal model immediately leapt to fame with the name Ray-Ban Aviator. 1938 Early Ray-Ban Models During the early years, Ray-Ban’s marketing strove to foreground the functional aspect of the new eyewear, targeting sports enthusiasts and lovers of the outdoor life. In 1938, the first Shooters were launched. These were available in two types of lens, Ray-Ban Green and Kalichrome, a pale yellow lens for use in misty or foggy conditions. Shortly afterwards, a third, ground-breaking, metal-frame model hit the market. This was Outdoorsman, originally called “Skeet Glass” and designed for specific user groups such as hunting, shooting and
1936 Birth of Ray-Ban Eyewear For aviation, both military and civil, the 1920s was a decade of remarkable advances. Air traffic grew as a result. With the development of new aeroplanes that could fly higher and higher came altitude-related problems. Pilots were suffering from headaches and nausea because of glare and the great distances that they had to traverse. In 1929, General MacCready asked Ray-Ban for a new type of air force eyewear that would protect pilots from glare at high altitudes while at the same time ensuring a clear field of vision. The company took up the challenge and succeeded in developing a new pair of glasses with lenses that could block out a high proportion of visible light. This marked the birth of Ray-Ban’s first, green-lens ANTI GLARE eyewear. The first model to go on sale to the public - in 1936 - featured a plastic frame with the classic Aviator shape. 1937 Ray-Ban Trademark Registered The name ANTI GLARE was too generic. It did not distinguish the new eyewear clearly from rival products. In 1937, the Ray-Ban trademark was registered and marketed, gracing a new model with a metal frame. The name Ray-Ban was chosen for the new product to emphasise that the eyewear could block out glare and protect the user’s eyes from the sun’s rays. The Large Metal model immediately leapt to fame with the name Ray-Ban Aviator. 1938 Early Ray-Ban Models During the early years, Ray-Ban’s marketing strove to foreground the functional aspect of the new eyewear, targeting sports enthusiasts and lovers of the outdoor life. In 1938, the first Shooters were launched. These were available in two types of lens, Ray-Ban Green and Kalichrome, a pale yellow lens for use in misty or foggy conditions. Shortly afterwards, a third, ground-breaking, metal-frame model hit the market. This was Outdoorsman, originally called “Skeet Glass” and designed for specific user groups such as hunting, shooting and